Some California farmers will flood their field after this upcoming winter's storm to try to replenish the state's groundwater supply.

The Almond Board of California said Monday three of its member farmers -- in Stanislaus, Merced and Fresno counties -- have agreed to take part in an experiment.

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"It goes back to the way the Central Valley was 200-300 years ago," Almond Board President Richard Waycott said.

Water managers have said the state's groundwater supply has likely been severely drained during the past four years of drought.

Courtesy: Don Cameron

Forecasters have predicted that El Niño, a warming of the Pacific Ocean near the equator, is likely to cause above-average rainfall in Southern California.

However, most of the state's large reservoirs, such as Shasta and Oroville, are in the north. Therefore, much of the runoff from this month's heavy rainstorm that caused flooding and mudslides in Southern California likely flowed out to sea.

Researchers at UC Davis have been looking for ways to capture more runoff without relying on reservoirs.